Louie's Backyard

We have seen what other have posted and we just don't get it, yes its a bar with a deck that overlooks the bay with killer sunsets and fireworks all summer long. It has a great buffet and the best steaks in Texas. It is NOT a 5 star restaurant and does not try fool anyone into thinking it is. The staff is young and very attentive to your needs but yes it is an outdoor place. They also have indoor areas if you can't handle being out side with all that entails. They also have a real live web cam out on the deck that you can control so go have a look for your self...check the web site for the link more

This has got to be the worst place on the island. My family went to Louie's tonight for drinks, appetizers and dessert. We ordered drinks and watched the sunset. Then, our appetizer was wrong and our waiter was awful. When we complained to him, he gave us lip and talked back to us. We didn't even order another round or desset, because the service was so back. We even complained to the manager. DO NOT GO TO LOUIE'S. Pros: Location Cons: Everything else more

I've only eaten in the sports bar area of this HUGE club and restaurant, but I have eaten five or six different things and LOVED everything but one... more

Never been to this place until this past Saturday, April 11, 2009 to celebrate a friend's birthday. Got there around 12:00am, cover charge of $10.00 per person. Lot of people which was understandable. DJ was really bad, bad mixes. For the money this place makes they could afford better. Last call announced 10 minutes till 2:00am and then the fun stuff started. I had noticed when we first got there a lot of men dressed in black with POLICE on the back of their shirts everywhere. Right at 2:00am these men started going around the club yelling and flashing their flashlights into your face at the club goers to get out , that the club was closed and " get the hell out". I was on the upstairs level of this club and got approach by one of the POLICE OFFICER (South Padre Island Police Officer), I got yelled at and he came around me and stood very close to me which was very uncomfortable. At least 15 to 20 of these officers were at the club going around and yelling, some I noticed pushed individuals to get on their way out. I have never been to club that at closing time does such a thing. I have been to clubs both in the US and in Mexico. I don't drink, I did witnessed alot of people being hurried down the stairs that were losing their footing (the stairway is steep and the steps are narrow) . Everyone rushed to the stairway to get down people holding on to one another to prevent from falling and being trampled. Worst night of my life to experience this. These POLICE officers were even hurrying a guy on crutches, his girlfriend asking to just let him wait till the stairway was clear. We did the wait until the stairway was clear to make our way down. On the way down I was behind three girls, they were also being yelled at and one of those officers pushed one of the girls, he turned to look at me and I nodded no. The three girls stated the they were walking down but were cautious not to fall. The bathrooms were closed and people again got yelled and demanded to leave. The WORST SERVICE EVER, I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN THAT PLACE AGAIN. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IF YOU DO GO HERE. The owners of this club have no idea what could happen by doing such things and probably don't care. I do know this with such treatment of their customers they are going to end up with none. more

I had the seafood treasure chest. The shrimp was really good, fish had no flavor, the crab cakes were too spicy for me, scallops were okay. My fiance had the 10 oz ribeye. He said it was really good! Almost a filet type cut of meat. We sat downstairs outside around sunset. Nice view:) Prices were average...menu selection was lacking. Pros: View Cons: Food and prices just average...nothing special, menu selection more

I went to this tourist trap to try the all you can eat Seafood Buffett. It sounded like it had a little of everything, prepared in several ways-ie shrimp scampi, fried shrimp, peel and eat shrimp. The fresh fruit salad, fried shrimp and crab legs were the only edible things. AVOID the scallops??? if they are scallops-yeck and the crab cakes. I enjoyed the fresh seafood from the local seafood market that was cooked right there much more than this "buffett". The outside area of the restaurant was very appealing, sit by the bay and watch the sunset, but it was too windy to eat outside. Inside the smoke was overwhelming-not from smokers- but from their inside grill area. I had to wash my hair as soon as I left because I reeked of smoke! I heard a couple of ladies complain that they needed to sit away from the smoke and all they said was "this is non - smoking". Okay, those are the good points- the waiter (an aging beach bum who is looking for his next date), the "manager" and the goons in cowboy hats that are the "doormen" were rude, unfriendly, uncaring and crude (in the case of the doormen). They only nice server was the hispanic girl cleaning the tables. I can now understand why you see advertising for the joint everywhere. They need a new crowd of tourists every night-I'm sure repeat business is no big thing for them as they don't seem to make it a point to please customers when they arrive. Get em in, get em out and take their money. Pros: Beautiful outside deck on the bay Cons: Rude staff, mediocre food and weak drinks more

A Must. more

Nice looking restraunt right on the water. Good food. Very un~clean kitchen, or at-least I think so... I ordered red snapper & it was delicious un till I got 1/2 way through it & found 3 hairs under the fish... The waiter (Joseph) apoligised & got the manager (Mo). Mo apoligised as well & offered to replace the 1/2 eaten entre with something else from the menu. I had them bring me a small fillet minon, which was good. My wife had the buffet & the crab was good. The bill for our dinner & drinks totaled $56.11 which I payed with my visa card & left a $15-20% tip in cash~~~ & didnt get upset about the hair in my food & I didnt complain about the laim quality of their "Top shelf margaritas"... The next evening I looked @ my online banking & seen where they debited my account 4 times @ $67.33 a POP. I imediatly took a cab down to the bar & found Mo & showed him how they billed me... He nicely said that he could NOT refund my money & I would have to come back tomorrow & talk to Annie... That sure is a lot of extra work & expense to have to deal with on a vacation... THANKS LOUIE'S, costing me a day & 1/2 of stress on my vacation... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALSO WORTH MENTIONING, I ASKED WHY MY STUB SAID $56.11 & THE DEBIT'S ON MY ACCOUNT ALL SHOWED $67.33 & THE MANAGER SAID THEY AUTOMATICLY SL@P A 20% GRATUITY ON THE BILL.... IF THIS IS THE CASE, THEN WHY DIDNT IT SAY THAT ANYWHERE? I TIP IN CASH... i CAN UNDERSTAND GRATUITY ON BIG TABLES OF 8 OR MORE PEOPLE, BUT NOT ON A TABLE OF 2 & ESPECIALLY A BUFFET WHERE THE SERVICE IS MINIMAL... The bottom line is this ----- If your a young spring breaker looking for a hot spot where you can party & dance on the deck, there are a-lot hotter places on the island to hang out, & if your an older couple looking for a place to relax & have a good dinner, there are a-lot better places to have dinner & coctails where you dont have to worry about getting ripped off... Louie's Back Yard is a Good old fashioned Tourist TRAP plain & simple! more

This place is where its at,best bar and food on the island,the island is like going to cancun with out the mess of going to mexico.Sure if you go during spring break it's going to be full of people,a lot is going on around that time of the year,so if you don't like a lot of people don't come other wise enjoy. Pros: Drink,food,Ambience,Bay side,fish,the cancun feeling very nice.. Cons: Don't come at spring break,other wise it's a great place to go and be. more

Louie's is by far the place to be on the Island. You have so many choices! The Local Bar has great sandwiches and a very diverse menu. The deck has a great seafood buffet and is a great place to watch the Fireworks on Friday nights. It gets a little hectic during Spring Break...but hey...that is Spring Break! The dining room serves the best steaks on the Island!!!! The mangement and staff are energetic, hardworking and attentive. Anyone who has had a bad experience at Louie's needs to give it another chance. Louie's is a great place to go by yourself or with the whole family!!!!!! We've been coming to the Island since 1984 and I don't think we've made a single trip without hitting Louie's! Pros: Staff, Food, Atmosphere more

I ahve recently been to Louies. I was very disappointed. The service was lousy. The food cold and the drink watery. I cannot understand how this place gets a good rating. I went back for a beer and it was at least cold. more

Louie's has always been a mainstay for locals as well as frequent visitors. The prime rib and shrimp buffet for under $20 can't be beat. Great sunsets over the bay round out the visual pleasure of Louie's and South Padre Island Pros: Great food, Good prices, weekend live music more

Nice place, would not want to be in padre during spring break anyway. Food was good, band not to loud, we could talk, drinks fast and furious, nice fireworks show on the weekend. As close to Cancun as possible without the Mexican side effects. more

For the most part other than being attacked at the door for your I.D, the place was so packed most of the time you couldnt walk anywhere then on march 22nd the place had to get closed down because of the fight and all that occured..I dont think one night was actually fun there Pros: good air Cons: crowds, EXPENSIVE drinks, mean cover people more